Saka injury ‘does not look good at all’, says Arteta after Arsenal draw

Bukayo Saka was forced off with a quadriceps injury after 10 minutes of Arsenal’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Bayern Munich, prompting manager Mikel Arteta to say the problem “does not look good at all”. The club must wait to learn how long the winger could be out.

Saka went down while attempting a pass, with no opponent nearby, and was replaced by Eberechi Eze. Arteta told TNT Sports that the club were “a bit concerned” because a player having to leave with “a really sharp pain is never good news”.

The injury threatens to sideline a player who has scored four goals in 11 appearances this season and remains central to Arsenal’s attack. He has also had recent fitness problems: an Achilles injury affected his playing time last season, while a hamstring injury required surgery in December 2024.

Arsenal have alternatives, and their response in Munich offered some encouragement. Eze scored the opening goal after coming off the bench, while Noni Madueke switched from the left to the right wing after Saka’s withdrawal. Declan Rice scored a late equaliser as Arsenal drew 2-2.

Former Manchester City defender and Champions League pundit Nedum Onuoha said Arsenal would miss Saka’s “star power”, but argued that Madueke and Eze had shown they could step up. Arsenal also have 16-year-old Max Dowman as an attacking option. Summer signing Christos Tzolis, who has started the season well, is currently out with a hamstring injury.

Arteta praised Eze’s all-round contribution against Bayern, including his work without the ball, and said the substitutes brought energy and different qualities to the team. The immediate question for Arsenal is how long they will have to rely on those options while they await a clearer assessment of Saka’s injury.